
(lass _K5_35i_L 

PRESENTED BY 

)^0\ 



THE PALM 
DOVE'S SONG 







THE 

PALM DOVE'S 

SONG. 



d 









COPYRIGHT 1901, M. CUM^NAi 






/ 'Oka. 






TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



The; Dove's Identity. 

The Dove's Genealogy and Mission. 

The Man Alone in Eden. 

Adam's Fall. 

Adam's Cares. 

Gray Dove's Story of the Man Cubs. 

Adam's Song to Himself Reelected in The 

Lake. 

Adam's Waiting. 

The Coming of Eve. 

Red Dove's Song to The Passion Vine. 

Sleepy Mocking Bird's Song. 

Epilogue. 



PROLOGUE. 



The world of men, in truth ; 

Too busy is ; 
The world of books, too full 

Of heresies ; 
The world of thought, does deal 

In specialties ; 

"What shall we do?" 

Believe the best, of course, 

Of busy man ; 
Seek the foundation-stone, 

In every plan; 
The light has run in lines 

Since time began. 

"To God be true." 



THE 
DOVE'S IDENTITY. 



SONG. 



The Palm Dove flew from Paradise, 

And with him flew his mate, 
Their hearts were bound with the life of Man, 

And bound with his, their fate. 

Mankind went forth from Paradise, 

But was with life content; 
The Doves flew fast the earth around, 

They were with message sent. 

The Man thought not of Eden-land, 

Shut out from all its bloom; 
And in the cares of earthly life, 

Forgot his first, best home. 

A Palm Dove came to Man again 

Its message all untold; 
And Man knew not, and the Dove forgot 

The need of the message old. 

The Man wrought hard success to win, 

The Dove did mute remain; 
Until the time of the telling was, 

It could not sing again ; 



IO 



As frightened child on errand sent, 

Each time it tried to tell 
Some angel seemed to hush its voice, 

Or demon, sent from Hell ; 

At last, again it caught the thought 

And then flew near and far ; 
But no one heeding when it spoke, 

Its message told in air. 

One soul alone caught what it told ; 

"It shall sing again," said he, 
"It shall see the face of Him it loves, 

"And Man from sin help free." 

"It shall know the power of Sin is gone; 

"And, Man redeemed again, 
"It then in Paradise shall rest, 

"And sing o'er Eden's plain." 

O ye, to whom some message's given, 

Tho' long delayed it be ; 
Work on, and strive, and speak, and live, 

Gain Heaven's eternity. 



RECITATIVE. 

THE DOVE'S GENEALOGY 

AND MISSION. 



RECITATIVE. 



Of what my father knew he told 
To me the part his father told 
To him ; we tell not all, nor can 

We sing 'til Man has heard 
And us believed. 

We are the Doves ; 
We sailed in air 
Before we sailed with Noah in 
The flood ; and there was Man near lost, 
And with him lost our souls, but for 

Our gracious deed. 

When Noah 
Sent the raven out it went 
And staid ; but we 

Brought back to him a branch of hope, 
And with its fair freshness, new life 
And hope, and love. 

Since then, not once, 

But oft a Dove ransom 
Has paid for Man, who, ransomed now 
And once for all, 

Must know that by himself he fell 
And seek to rise, by self, if he 
Must needs, or learns he has a soul 

Which calls for God ; for, "By 
The Grace of God" the wise will rise 
Toward perfectness. 



RECITATIVE. 

THE MAN ALONE IN 

EDEN. 



RECITATIVE. 



The Man was placed in Eden, just 
Before the rock whereon we perched, 
And there he lay. 

Awaked, he sat, 
Then rising upright, stood, 
And wondering seemed of how, and why, 
And where he'd come ; 

He looked about, gazed at the sun, 
Its blue he saw, blotting it out 
With both his hands ; 

He sank to Earth 

And rested there, upon 
A mound of sand. He looked upon 
The Earth, and then 
Upon his feet and hands, 

Spread out 
Before him his long arms, then gazed 
From finger-tips out toward a lake 

Which lay beyond ; there first 
He saw the azure sky mirrored 
For him, lest he 
Should fail to look above. 

So new 
To Man was all, he did not know 
All else was old but he, the last 

And least creation ; small 
Indeed, but seeking reasons how, 
And whence, and why 
He'd come, and whither he would go. 



18 

In bliss and ignorance he sat, 
Nor knew his Maker had a right ; — 

Since He Himself knew life 
From span to span ; one perfect soul 
T* enclose in clay. 

Afar we heard the trumpetings 
Of elephants ; 

The Man, too, heard ; 
He turned about, and watched their slow 

And stately march. 

When him 
They saw, they swerving came, and formed 
About the Man 
A semi-circle, vast and dark, 
And halted for a sign ; 

Then Adam 
Arose and stood, while with his new- . 

Found hands unconsciously 
He made a sign to those great beasts ; 
With his thin wrists 
And helpless hands he'd spoke to them 
Unwittingly. 

Approached toward him 
The stately leader of the herd ; 

Its mighty frame before 
The Man kneeling, rested upon 
The trembling earth. 
The Man stepped lightly forth, drew near 
The beast, and lightly sate upon 
Its neck ; 

Slowly the pondrous beast 

Swayed to its feet, and stood ; 
Stately it stood, leader of all 
Its kind ; 

Upon 
Its neck, and with it ; raised Mankind 
Above the level of all beasts 
As had been its command. It gave 



19 

A signal, at which sign 
The great herd parted ; then appeared 
The second in size 
To it ; which stood in place, facing 
The Man, who intent viewed them all. 

Instant each trunk arose, and waved 

In air; instant a sound 
Of trumpetings from them proclaimed 
Aloud to Heaven 
Man recognized by them as lord, 
And by them loved. 

From that time forth 
The Man and herd were friends ; the wise 

And gentle leader or 
His mate, Adam's guardians ; they went 
And came with him. 

Life then was new, the man content. 
The Sun by day its rays cast down, 
Adam lived within its light ; trees leaned 

Toward him, upon him cast 
Blossoms and fruit. 

He picked the leaves, 
Spreading them out 
Upon the sand ; he placed those most 
Alike in clustering rows. 

The husks 
He took of palmetto, and coarse 
Grass wove like them, so like 
It seemed. 

With vines he bound long rolls 
Of woven grass 
Together like a mat ; with moss 
He padded it, then on the back 
Of elephant bound fast with ropes 

Of pliant vines ; at last 
He had a rude howdah, fit for 
A king ; 



20 



In it 
He lay, and rode about, alert 
To all that came in sight by dawn ; 
In safety lay through darkest night ; 

Dread night, dread Moon, whose oft 
Changing made him afraid ; and left 
Him so; 

For her 
He longed, but knew she was the Sun's 
Fair mate ; the Sun's alone, not Man's ; 
The Sun seemed friend, likewise the trees ; 
Also the beasts which came 
From out the woods and jungles dense 
To gaze on Man. 
In turn he them surveyed. 

When each 
One passed the Man, he spake to it, 
And thus its name was fixed for time ; 

Some habit, mark, or sign, 
Some fancied likeness, called Man's thought 
In speech from out 
His lips. 

He beasts observed, and all 
Their ways like his ; they ate, they slept, 
They walked, they ran, — not slowly trode 

Like elephants, which beasts 
Were gone, at times, for days, and then 
Adam felt alone. 

One beast beside, Man saw, 

A beast 
Most strange, walking upright, like him; 
This beast had wings, which, like great leaves, 

Closed and unclosed themselves ; 
As if at will they rose and fell 
Like wings of bats ; 
This entertained the Man, and in 
The hot mid-day these wings gave forth 
A breeze which soothed and fanned the Man, 



21 



And kept him close beside 
The courteous beast. 

As for this great, 
This gorgeous beast, 
This dragon-crocodile ; we do 
Not know ; we cannot tell what joy 
Filled all its heart ; what dreams, what soft 

And timid flutt'rings rose 
As Adam* touched its leathry sides, 
So cool and moist. 

All other beasts, with this, and his 
Great elephants, seemed like hugh toys 
To Man, so diverse from their kind 
Was he. 

The fan- winged beast 
He liked, and oft had Adam, seated 
Upon its head, 

The surface of the lake skimmed o'er 
Watching the fish that nimbly swam 
The sparkling waves, waves blue as sky 
Above. 

Of beasts, the two 
Which most amused the Man, were tall 
Giraffes, which in 
The trees above Man's easy reach 
Could thrust their heads about, and pick 
The ripened fruits and nuts for him ; — 

And bears unwieldy, in 
Whose furry coats he hid his hands ; 
They, too, were friends. 

Upon their backs, so broad and soft, 
He often sat, and stroked their curly 
Fur; he often lay beside 

Them when he slept ; when cold, 
On sunny side ; when shone the sun, 
He lay upon 

The side where fell the shade ; Man had 
So many friends. 



22 

Above the beasts 
Were other friends ; the Sun, the Moon, 
Serene, oft changing Moon 
Which menaced him when risen, when gone, 
Man, terrified, 

Crept close to elephant or bear 
And loved to hear them breathe ; these, with 
Himself — upon the coming of 
The radiant, rising Sun 
Saluted it, each his own way. 
Then all us birds 

Sang joyously. Those were the days 
When peace on earth was here, and all 
The noisy crowd of boys was not, 

With war of gun and stick, 
And stone ; such tranquil days I would 
See Eden again. 

When high the sun arose, a weight 

Over great crocodile seemed thrown; — 

A weight of sleep, heavy as lead. 

Its first sleep o'er, then oft 

Waked it, to see the man was safe, 

Then closed — content — 

Its three eyelids, in haste to dream 

Its dreams again, or lose itself 

In sleep. 

This beast was named "Satan," 
And it loved Man ; loved him 

With all its heart, and him alone 

Of all that lived. 

Great joy the Man gave it; one touch 

Of Man's warm hand upon its side, 

Its leath'ry side, made ripples — run 

To mountain waves of joy — 

Flow fast from tipmost snout and tail 

Back to its heart, 

Its beastly heart, and out again. 

It clasped its wing upon the spot 



23 

The Man had touched to keep it warm; 

Its flattened, heavy head 
It trembling waved from side to side 
In rapturous 
Delight. 

The Man was its one chance 
For Heaven, and him it loved. So passed 
The equal days and nights, and Adam 

Was listless, then, perchance, 
Industrious. Daily he bathed ; 
And bathed in state ; 

Great elephants bathed first within 
The margin of the lake, then stood 
The herd with look intent, while from 

The lake the leader of 
The herd approached the waiting Man 
And — none too gently — 
Sprayed him well with water from 
His trunk ; the Man would catch his breath, 
And jump about until he'd bathed 

Enough ; with hands, or in 
The sand he'd dry himself, then run 
Lightly beside 
The elephant ; 

The herd, alert, 
Then raised on high their trunks, and gave 
Salute to Man, their leader's king. 

From elephant to bird 
Each living friend of Man's seemed bound, 
From common cause, 
By law inviolate, one of 
Its kind to choose from all the rest 
As special one, from thence to be 
Its own ; to live, and eat, 
And rest by it. 

Such mate had not 
The crocodile 



24 

Beelzebul, whom Adam found 
Beside the lake, sunning itself ; 
An insect large it seemed, 

Alike to man in this, 
They were unlike each creature else ; 
No bond but this 
Existed then, and Satan thought 
No jealous thought. 

Then was invent 
An attribute of earthly mould, 

"Platonic love," and it 
The ffcrpent felt ; no cause had it 
For jealousy. 

Most gladly staid the crocodile 
Beside the margin of the lake 
Where it had found, unvexed, secure, 
A tranquil resting-place. 

Since it, from Heaven cast out, had made 

A resting place, — 

Apart from those who'd fallen with it; 

Its eyes the heinousness of Sin 

Had seen, and lost its love for it, 

And for the baleful train 
Which followed in its track 
And brought no joy. 
For Sin no love Adam bore, he had 
Not seen its form, nor all its foul, 
Fetid and fatal loathesomeness ; 

Beast Satan had ; — and Hell 
Once left, with all its brood of Sins, 
The great beast's deathless soul ; — 
For it had chosen to be a beast 
In look (tho' not in fact) t' escape 
The place, nor once again endure 

The sweet and sickly stench 
Of Sin's vile wiles ; — his soul — for whoso 



25 

Has a soul 

Is him or her — loathed Sin's embrace. 
Once out of Hell, and free, he staid ; 
But left the gates of Hell unclosed ; 
And inwardly they swing, 
And ever inward swing and yawn 
For whoso comes. 

O'er birds Sin has no power, but this 
We know ; Hell freely lets men in 
But never out. 

There is no need 
That Hell should hold the one 
Repentant one, since men are found 
To willingly 
Take up his work. 

These with great zest, 
And in apparent glee, carry 
It on for sake of gain, nor care 

Who falls, nor what befalls 
Themeslves ; nor care their wives, children, 
Nor worldly friends, 
Until too late they find they've made 
Themeslves within Hell's flames ; horrid 
And endless flames, — a place of woe 

Like that they made on earth 
For wives and babes, and hungry men 
Unhoused, unfed, 

No need of "chiefs" in Hell, since these 
Do work for Hell, and take their hire 
In coin, and pay again into 

Town treasuries license 
To sin. The license does not say "Thou must 
For us then, lose 

Thy soul." By their free will they bind 
Themselves by name, that there be no 
Mistake, and sell they do, of that 

Which makes of Man a beast. 
A curse rings in their ears, the noise 



26 



Of which they'd stop 
With fire, and have it done, if they 
But could; but no, the mete they on 
Earth meted out, shall be their share 

In Hell, where wealth, so gained, 
Can buy no ease ; so they in vain 
In torment moan, 

And weep, and rage; knowing at last 
That what is gained by helping Sin 
To rule the Earth, is lost when weighed 

In balance with a mind 
Which justly suffers for the woes 
It helped create. 

Adam could not know of this, but we 
Have learned it since. Adam was a child, 
Childlike his way seemed clear, from day 

To day was spread before * 
Him all the world, his world, and this 
Sufficient was. 

On elephant he rode about, 

And when he liked, he staid at home. 

The tall giraffe oft plucked him fruit 

Placed high beyond his reach. 
Once Adam essayed to climb for fruit, 
We birds did laugh. 

From passing drooping boughs Adam wit 
From trial had learned ; he coiled his hair 
About his head in many folds 

And pinned with thorns, when he 
Began to climb ; arrived on high 
He downward fell ; 
But for a lock of hair which caught 
Upon a branch, full to the ground 
He'd gone ; the branch he clutched, and firm 
Footing upon a branch 
Below. 

Then stood the Man aloft, 



27 

A branch above, 

A branch below ; himself held fast. 

So stood he there, and thought, and then 

Plucked out with his free hand, and hair 

By hair, the lock which held 
Secure from farther fall, a Man 
Both sad and wise. 

This done, he clambered downward to 
His grave old elephant, who laid 
Moist, cooling leaves upon the wound. 

When Adam again began 
To climb, he was held fast by trunk 
Inflexible. 

At home, down from the woods the bears 
Arrived; upon their backs were stored 
Sweet honey-combs ; 

Their friend they thus 
Remembered when they 
Returned. Far in the rocks these tame 
And cunning bears 

Had found stored up, and brought away 
The glorious honey-combs. 

Of this 
They'd eat their fill at once, — the bees 
Came not, and — satisfied — 
They thought of Adam, or lazily 
Had brought some home. 
The bees flew not in Eden, they lived 
Outside ; and stored, without a thought 
Of theft, their treasure-cells within 
The rocks or trees. 

Adam loved 
The sweet and blossom-scented food; 
He laid his face 

Close, close beside the bear's, and growled 
And hummed like it ; and clasped its neck, 
Its shaggy neck, with both his arms 

And thought aloud, "When next 
"A little bear appears, I'll have 



28 



"It for my mate, 

"We then will go and find the honey 

"For ourselves, and stay away." 

The other creatures that he touched 
Were young of birds. 

He watched 
Their nests and fed the young with fruits 
And nuts ground fine 
Between his teeth. 

He watched the nests 
Of birds, and if in tree-leaves hid 
His elephant would hold the lithe 

And swaying branches down, 
Or patiently would wait, while Adam 
Stood secure for hours 
Upon its pachydermous back, 
And watched the nest ; the eggs he'd count, 
One, three ; five, six ; he knew at sight. 

He touched the eggs, and dropped 
Them, too. To him it was a most 
Intense surprise 

That pebbles from a tree should break, 
And forth should spill their contents out, 
Strange, strange indeed; beyond the facts 
He'd learned ; nor could he them 
Repair ; in vain he tried his best, 
There seemed no way. 
He sought for stones, and filled the nest, 
He filled it full, full to the brim ; 
He noticed this, birds never claimed 

Nor sat thereon, when thus 
He'd done. Thoughtful he then became. 
From out the nest 

Two eggs he'd take, and in their place 
Two pebbles lay. Then watched he well, 
And, O, his joy; the old birds did 

Not notice it ; alas, 
In time the birdlings came, beside 



29 

Them lay the stones 
As they were placed ; no yellow, wide 
And gaping mouths ; no skinny throats, 
Came stretching up midst tender wings 

Emerging from their shells ; 
Nor would they break when dropped. He stored 
In vain pebbles 

Of every size, to match the eggs 
Of all the birds within his reach. 
Man waiting, watched and worked, ofttimes 

He lay full length upon 
The elephant and dreamed, his couch 
Of grass his nest. 

Week after week, and month by month 
He wondered and observed. 

The young 
Of all the birds and beasts grew like 
The old; in time matured, 
From tiniest birdling to the baby 
Elephant ; 

Not one grew like to him of all 
That moved about ; not one had such 
A foot, nor one a hand nor arm 

Like his, not one, not one ; 
The trees and plants he loved, but they 
Were always there. 



RECITATIVE. 
ADAM'S FALL. 



RECITATIVE. 



Then came a lonely day when all 
The elephants were gone. In march 
Ordered they went, and two by two, 

The young beside their dam. 
Alone was Adam, no one but he, 
Except that beast, 
The crocodile. 

Satan himself 
Was left as guard. In vain did strive 
The beast ; in vain did stand upright ; 

His napping time had come 
And drowziness him seized ; but Adam 
Slept not, nor sat, 
In all the glare of blazing day. 
Down Satan sank, watchful he'd be 
Though he himself should sleep. He thought 

"Adam is alone, what harm 
"Can come to Man, what harm indeed ?" 
So Satan slept. 

Man was alone; one pair of bears 
Slept on serene ; the small one of 
The other pair, alert and full 

Of fun, played close at hand. 
The wakeful little beast played there 
Alone awhile ; 

She was the one who oftenest brought 
Sweet honey-comb to Adam. Her mate'd 
Been gone for days, was this one left 



34 

For Adam then? Man thought 
Why not for him? He felt all through 
His frame of flesh 
A shudder run ; 

He fondled and 
Caressed the beast, he fawned around, 
And kissed the brute, his frenzied mind 

No difference saw in race. 
What subtly stole his sense away? 
A languorous dread 
To fear soon changed, to trembling fear, 
For, far off in the woods, he heard 
The lusty call to her of her 

Returning mate. 

Down ran 
The little bear into the lake 
Nor thought of Adam ; 
Unlucky Adam, her furry coat 
Clutching; he ran, and stumbled down, 
And sank with her into the lake. 

Man Adam was drowned, since he 
Of beast, and with a beast, had him 
Mated. 

The bear unconsciously swam on, 

She, witless, by her gifts had won 

The Man. 

Was Adam drowned ? Why not ? 

Above his head the bright 

And merry wavelets floated in 

The Sun. 

Before 

That day we doves had sung, but since 

We never sing ; we chirp, and coo, 

And mourn. 

Above Adam's head arose 
Some bubbles bright of air. 

The Man had loved a beast ; again 

Man rose above 



35 

The waves ; he gave a scream of fear, 
The first despairing scream of fear ; 
Brute that she was, the bear had heard 

The scream, and turned ; — close shut 
Her mouth over the waves of Adam's 
Long, floating locks; 
Then swam, and drew him to the shore ; 
She drew him, senseless, o'er the sand 
That scorched beneath the sun. From her 

Wet sides she shook out showers, 
Drenching the Man with drops. She saw 
Her mate's return. 
She buried from his sight the Man ; 
She reared; an instant stood upright; 
Then dropped, and sprang to meet her spouse, 
A sound 

Unique enstopped our ears, a laugh 
From Satan's jaws. 

On haunches raised, with head thrown back, 
From saw-like lips full tensely strained 
Came chuckles vast ; a noise most like 

Unto the noise of pent 
But gurgling water, rolled from out 
His frog-like throat 
When laughed that fallen prince. 

From both 
His eyes, half closed in mirthfulness, 
Now sparkled out, twinkled unchecked 

The thought that he alone 
Possessed the knowledge firm of the 
First fall of Man ; 
A fall supreme, complete and sure. 
How simple, matchless even, that he, 
Beelzebul, should close his eyes 

For one instant to thus 
Secure the upper hand of Man. 
That he, in sooth, 

Scant time should nod his cumbrous head 
In dreamless sleep before some sense 



36 

Unknown, alert ; an instinct wrought 

About the edge of sleep, 
Him warned, instant and opportune, 
To Man's ordeal ; 

In point of time the first great nurse 
To scorn his charge, and him neglect 
And so gain death instead of life 

For him. 

The same instinct 
That waked, had warned him hold his tongue, 
Throw up his head, 
And backward look ; 

Thus fell Man Adam 
Beneath his power — but tempted not. 

The senseless Man, within the sand 

Enshrined, lay still. 

The bear 
Rejoiced to have again her mate, 
The Man was dead; 
Alive or dead nothing Man was 
To her, happy the beasts had lived 
Before he came, and happy now 

He'd gone again. 

Satan 
Alone'd miss Man, but, laughing still, 
He saw the small 
Bear rise, and quickly drop again ; 
She skurried on to her rough mate, 
Together to the lake they came, 

Together drank, returned, 
Then ran into the woods ; as quick 
Returned from thence, 
And with them other bears. 

Instinct 
With inquiry, they rolled the Man 
From out his grave into Sun's glare ; 

Around, and back and forth 
Over the sands ; with their pink tongues 



37 

They licked the Man ; 
No sign of life gave he ; and then 
Beast Satan wept ; then groaned aloud 
The lonely crocodile, and lashed 

His body with his wings. 
He wept great drops, great streams of pearls 
That shimm'ring ran 
All down his slimy, skin-tight jaws, 
For long and vain he'd tried the heart 
And love of manly Adam to win. 

To Satan, doubly doomed, 
His single loneliness seemed worse 
Than dual woe, 
Now Adam was gone. 

Satan himself 
Had long lost Heaven, and had attained, 
By many trials, on Earth foothold; 

With him, could Adam have gone, 
Almost in Hell would be again 
Have taken up 

His place. Earth gained, Man lost, was worse 
Than Hell ; Adam gone, no use had he 
For either Heaven or Hell, the Earth 

Was both ; himself, Satan, 
The most compacted far of all 
Its molecules. 

He grieving, lost himself. He wept 
Afresh. 

He could not hope for death, 
Nor dream to enter Heaven, not e'en 

Tho' penitent, unless 
Himself he lost, and gained, instead, 
A better life ; 

Another life, by entrance to 
This earth, and thence through life and death 
As mindless human being ; 

How 
Accomplish it ? Had he 
Not endless ages toiled to look 
At human kind? 



38 

But one of these he'd seen, but one, 
And he now dead, and fast to clay 
Turning before his eyes. His loss 

Too great a punishment 
Seemed then ; to close one's eyes, because 
Secure, and find 

Sin stolen in, and Death ; them he'd 
Forgot in love for that one Man. 
"Out, wretched fiends," he gurgling 
Moaned, "I call on God 
"To drive you out ; this is no place 
"For such as you ! 

"Go, furious ones ; seize tree, rock, fish ; 
"The beasts, the birds, but let Man live. 
"Adam's gone, you him have lost, he's safe 

"In Heaven." 

"In Heaven ? E'en there 
"He may remembrance take of me. 
"My shape, vile and 
"Ungainly, better mem'ry is 
"Than that would be of heinous Sin, 
"Which precedes Death one step. 

"Had Adam 
"Come forth from Heaven, he had 
"No memory of it. God was 
"A Presence loved ; 
"A Presence felt, oft coming ; tho' 
"So near, invisible to Man. 
"That Presence seemed to love Man well, 

"The Sun Him loved, the great 
"Blue Sun within its rim dazzling. 
"I think me now 
"Of how he daily bowed to it 
"As God's great home." 

Long in this vein 
Sad Satan spake, and solace found 

But sobbed the while, gath'ring 
Himself into one huddled heap 
Of misery, 



39 

By grief poignant, devitalized ; 
There Adam lay, a mortal* clod 
Lifeless, beside the sandy dune; 

The Sun warmed him, the bears 
With fuzzy tongues stroked on and on, 
Nor wearied not ; 

From head to foot they Man did turn. 
Afresh burst forth the grief of him 
Satan called ; he wept again, and cursed 

Himself for that he'd slept ; 
All loss seemed his, his living heart 
Within his breast 
Was, bursting with its pain of love 
For that which loveless was, and cold, 
And still, and gone away without 

Good bye. 'Twas then began 
The trumpetings of elephants, 
And we who heard 
Turned and beheld one than the rest 
Whiter, surpassing them by far 
In stateliness of form and mein, 

Stride on alone. Upon 
Its back a shrouded figure sat. 
The bears growled loud ; 
Quick scurried to the lake, swam through, 
Through bushes tore their way, soon passed 
From sight, and in the mountain's woods 

Were lost. 

Before the herd 
The one lone elephant advanced, 
Moved fast and still ; 
To Adam it came and stood, while from 
Its back the shrouded one arose 
And in its shining draperies 

Down floated to the ground, 
It stretched its hands and touched the Man, 
It turned him face 
Upward, and gently breathed into 
His mouth until the breast of Adam 



4Q 

Rose high ; then forced the air forth from 

The lips of Adam until 
The breath of Man anew and well- 
Established was. 

The figure, kneeling, paused and looked 
On Man, then in an instant rose, 
And took its place unwillingly 

Upon its waiting beast ; 
Into its ear whisp'ring, left Adam 
To softly breathing rest. 



RECITATIVE. 
ADAM'S CARES. 



RECITATIVE. 



Slowly the year had nearly run 

Its course ; Adam sighed.for half his first, 

Best manhood' gone. 

In thought he was 

Oft lost; and in the vague 

Remembrance of his death ; he mourned 

That he still lived. 

Almost was Satan Adam's friend ; 
By night, by day he kept that most 
Unhappy Man in sight, and felt 

A grief supreme, if Adam 
But gazed on other beast, beside 
Himself, intent. 

The birds charmed Man ; their birdlings, too ; 
The blossoms, and the buds, not less 
Of trees, than those of Earth. Upon 

His matted couch of grass 
Not on the Earth, but on the great 
Broad back of his 

Strong elephant he lay, and dreamed — 
His head upon the beast's huge head. 
It fanned him with its ears ; it seemed 

To know Man home-sick was ; 
It plucked bright blossoms from the trees, 
And fairest fruits, 

And held them over to the child-like 
Man, in hope to please or coax. 



44 
« 
Quick Adam moved, and roused himself, 

His head on elbow leaned ; — 
A growl from out the far-off woods 
Rolled down from heights 
Beyond his sight ; a strange but yet 
A well-remembered sound, a growl ; 
And then appeared in view — a beast ? 

A man? a man-like beast, 
Who walked erect like Adam, but dressed 
In hairy skin. 

Close at its side another shape 
Came shuffling on. Fast to its neck 
Were clinging forms, and they seemed gray, 

And strange to us, and strange 
To Man,' who with his hand his eyes 
Shaded and gazed. 

The foremost man's exultant stride 
Showed by its pace it bore a prize 
Within its arms. 

Upon its breast 

There lay revealed to us, 
On closer view, four bundles held 
Of varying size 

And shape ; for two were rough and brown, 
And they were cubs of bears ; and two 
Beside, most weakly clung, nestling 

Close to the great bear's neck ; 
Their skin seemed pink and white, like birds, 
These then it'd brought 
To Man. 

My mate and I drew near, 
We looked inquiringly at Adam, 
Who, shivering, had raised himself 

And upright sat, staring. 
Satan glowering crouched, he'd never seen 
A standing bear 

But once before. What taught the bear 
To stand? What right had it such near 



45 

Approach to Adam to make, while he 

Thus sat on elephant ? 
It was most strange. 

The walking bears 
Seemed bold, they looked 
Expectantly at Man ; they'd brought 
Sweet honey-comb; with it, another 
Gift, and now presented it. 

Beside the Man 'twas laid, 
The gift of two of Man's own kind, 
Two infant men ; 

Then, backing off, the scornful bear 
Dropped to the ground two robust cubs, 
Its own. Were they helpless ? They ? No, 

For had not they a great 
Bear- father? Close to neck cleaving 
Of Mother-bear, 

Two others clung, pink- white, helpless ; 
With their weak hands they grasped her neck 
And nestled, cuddling there in fear. 

These Bruin raised, and laid 
Full gently, down by Adam, then dropped 
On all fours to 

The ground. It caught its cubs and by 
Their mother laid the little bears. 

She weary was of this most slow, 

Unusual work, weary 
Of walking far, and bringing in 
Her arms honey, 

While strange beasts to her head did cling; 
Relieved of these, at once she fell, 
She sank to earth ; then leisurely 

She nursed her cubs, content, 
Her Bruin looking on. My mate 
And I watched Adam. 

Seated within his nest upon 

Great elephant, he gazed, speechless, 



4 6 

Upon his naked, helpless young; 

His offspring, weakly clothed. 
In skin. 

Had elephant beheld, 
Their questioned lives 
An answer and a finish might 
Have had. 

A new cry then we heard, 
Adam heard it, too ; list'ning, he looked 
To see from whence it might 
Have come ; 

A thin and wedge-shaped face, 
Chest viol-shaped ; 
Within the face a mouth appeared 
And from it issued forth a wail, 
The strangest sound Adam's ear had heard. 

It did not touch his heart, 
He did not know he had a heart ; 
The cry rang loud, 
An answering cry in Adam arose, 
Not Pity's cry, his own despair 
Cried out. His arms the helpless one 

Enclosed and it pressed close 
To him, he could not help them if 
They all should weep. 
Why had the great bear-father brought 
To him these large-of-head-and-small- 
Of-bodied things? He'd give them back 

To it. 

Thus we saw Man, 
He helpless was ; at side of him 
And in his arms 

Nestling, the Man beheld his soft 
Image, the evolution of 
Himself; his first, displayed there; 

Four chimpanzees, the first 
Of monkey-kind, should they to him 
Apologize ? 
No ! they but looked at him who'd called 



47 

Them forth, — and cried again. They say 
The sun did dance, at which we closed 

Our eyes. 

We birds are not 
Allowed to love outside our kind, 
(This reason is 

We birds permitted are to live). 
The small and weakly young ones moaned, 
And trembling sobbed. Man Adam, himself 

Trembling, bade elephant 
Kneel down ; then, from its side sliding, 
He stooped him down 
And gently laid his cub beside 
The resting bear, that she might feed 
It with her own. 

Entreatingly 

Adam looked at father-bear, 
Which by him stood ; then clambered to 
His mat; from thence 
He handed Bruin all the rest ; — 
Three weakling little man-like cubs. 
With surly look the bear received 

Them back into his care, 
And growling to its mate some words 
It laid them down. 
The bear-cubs and the tiny men, 
Beside their common nurse, fed soon 
And well, and slept. 

This was the tale 
The gray doves told, they are 
Our cousins from abroad, they roani 
Where'er they will. 



GRAY DOVES' STORY OF 
THE MAN CUBS. 



GRAY DOVE'S STORY CONCERN- 
ING THE MAN CUBS. 



It happened in the far-off woods, away, 
Were father-bear, and mother-bear. One day 
Six cubs beside her lay, two brown, four gray. 

"Where did you find these grayling cubs, my 

dear?" 
"I found them just beside my own, right here, 
"They're not like mine, there's something wrong, 

I fear." 

"Do you stay here, and rest, and feed them all, 
"I'll go and search, and when you hear me call, 
"Bring every cub, and do not let one fall." 

But father-bear returned alone, and cross, 
Without the white bear-mother ; with the loss 
Of sleep and food. Then — with a mighty toss 

Of his great head, declared aloud, "They must 
"Be man-cubs ; now I think it fair and just 
"That he should take the care of them ; I'll dust 

"My paws from caring for more cubs than mine, 
"We'll take them with the honey, it is time; 
"He'll love his cublets, the're not mine, nor thine." 



52 

Day after day, most curiously, 

Man Adam watched his cubs. He stroked 

Their sides, and saw in what, if aught, 

They differed from their mates. 
Were these small beings like himself? 
Or would they grow 

Like birds ? no wings he saw ; and would 
Their skin be smooth and fine like his ? 
Was he once small as they ? Would they 

Grow downy, like the birds ? 
Or, like the bears, have fur ? They ate, 
They grew, they came, 
They went like bears. 

Their brother-cubs 
Were sometimes rude and rough in play, 
Then man-cubs took to climbing ; first 
To father-bear, and next 
To trees. 

High there they sat, serene, 
Or, chatt'ring fast 

They broke off sticks and leaves ; they tore 
Off blossoms ; picked the fruits and nuts, 
And rained them rattling down, in gay 

Mischief, upon the bears 
Below ; Adam grieved, that these small cubs 
Could him out-climb. 

He watched their pranks, they seemed to mock 

At him ; he envious grew of them ; 

He shuddered when they came too near; 

The elephants, as one, 
Distrusted them ; the crocodile 
Was jubilant. 

Poor mother-bear, whose eyes once shone 
With fun, grew dull, and leaden-eyed; 
It dreadful was that she could care 

For such ungainly cubs 
As these. 



53 

Man would have gladly thanked 
And petted her, 
But half afraid was he of her 
Rough mate, Man could not speak to her 
When it was by, so shy he'd grown. 

From time to time when brought 
Bruin its young, not all were bears, 
Two agile apes 

Appeared ; all in due time came more 
Strange beasts ; and orang-cubs, in pairs 
Or threes, or singly strown ; perchance 
Man evoluting out ; 
A stroke far greater than the Man 
Could patiently 
Endure. 

Could there, indeed, be no 
Release ? Again he thought, "And will 
"I have to choose a mate from these 

"New beasts which last have come ?" 
They had not made a kinship claim, 
Nor had he made. 

Should he again seek sleep like that 
He once had found? He from the back 
Of elephant could slip, and lay 

Him in the lake ; he'd look 
And see its utmost depths ; he looked, 
And saw — himself. 



ADAM'S SONG TO HIS IMAGE 
REFLECTED IN THE LAKE. 



SONG. 



What's that being 

Looking at me? 

I can see its face. 

I will go, and 

Live beside it, 

Wand'ring from this place. 

I move, it moves 

Coming to me, 

We will here remain, 

See its beauty, 

I embrace it, — 

It has gone again. 

I will come — am 

Coming. See it 

Reaching toward me ; — wait ! 

I come quickly 

Thy hands holding. 

They're so cold, my mate. 



58 

The Man was gone, his face so 'fair, 

With curls clust'ring ; long locks, which fell 

In shim'ring waves about his form 

Athletic, lithe, God-like; 
All gone in blindly seeking love 
However false. 

The elephant seized Man, and dragged 
Him from the depths. Had it known him 
Incapable of sense it would 

Have saved his lake- ward plunge; 
Saved ; — Man was well, but wroth. 

Nor evermore 

Could he approach its waves; for thorns 
Sprang up ; the elephant forbade ; 
Likewise the crocodile. From rocks 

Not far away, a pure 
And glitt'ring fountain sprang, rippling 
And running down 
The sand, throwing itself within 
The lake beyond the bounds now set 
For Adam ; hedged out, by them, from death. 

His life, though full of thought 
And simple learning of the ways 
Of plants, birds, beasts ; 
Unhappy was; and Discontent 
Its arms about him threw at times; 
Then Horror seized, and crushed the Man 

When he beheld the brutes 
Most like to him, and they did mock 
And leer at him. 



RECITATIVE. 
GOD'S PROMISE. 



Ex. 22, 19; 

Lev. 18; 23; 20, 15, 16; 
Deut. 27, 21. 



RECITATIVE. 



Time passed ; a great hush fell one day, 
While sounds of music, low and sweet, 
Fell o'er Adam's soul, and swaying all 

About him lay. It was 
Th' approach of God, in mortal form, 
He spoke, Adam heard. 
Each elephant a salute gave 
Noiseless ; Man trembling sat. 

God bade 
Him come to Him ; together stood 
The Twain. 

Then passed each beast 
In slow parade; the bears and Satan 
Walked upright; 

Of monkey-kind, not one was with 
The beasts ; they ranked themselves as birds 
And sat in trees. 

Now last of all, 
Came soulful crocodile ; 
With rare glitt'ring he walked abroad 
In bright sunshine. 

His drooping wings, as graceful sleeves 
Appeared; his tail, like trailing gown; 
Modest his head was bowed ; within 

His heart was fear. 

When Satan 
Passed, God said — and we know how 
He thundered it — 



64 

Curst be the man who of a beast 
Does make his mate; he shall be put 
To death — and he shall have no part 

With Me, or Mine ; nor in 
My sight, nor in My Heaven; for he 
Unworthy is. 

Satan toiled on, his heart bereft 
Cried sharp, "In vain my glittering, 
"Am I not doomed to Hell direct ?" 

"My place, and outside show's 
"Decreed; and fixed my rank on Earth, 
"I give up power, 

"My heart wants love alone, not glint 
"Of sun on golden scales. I want 
"Man Adam's love ; from that now shut 

"By law, I dust would be, 
"That roots of trees might pierce my sides, 
"Or blossom fair 
"My earthly body, hateful house, 
"Might soon destroy. No change of place 
"Nor shape — save by decree — to me 

"Can come ; I thank thee, God ; 
"Since Earth a home for me allowed 
"Is— I'll serve." 

Long while he crouched, withdrawn apart 
From all the rest ; then threw him down 
Upon his armored side, and thus 

Discoursed unto the ground ; 
"In gratitude I'll serve the Man 
"For evermore." 

"I've been in Hell, — and nothing there 
"Was worth the pains to go, or pains 
"When there ; escaped, — on Earth, bondage 

"Itself is joy, bondage 
"In service of a mind which learns 
"By taking thought ; 
"Which finds a charm in life itself, 



65 

"And in its forced employ. At worst 
"Even Man, cast off from God, can live 

"The equal of the beast. 
"I, Satan, shaped in Heaven, fell down 
"To Hell's mid-depths." 

"I am content to stay in mud 
"As earthly crocodile, rather 
"Than be confined in hearing of 

"Hell's discord ; and its noise 
"And clamor for 'The one who dragged 
"The Angels down.' " 

In softened mood, he murmured on, 
"It is but just Hell-ward I should 
"Return; I'll go — if sent; once there, 

"I'll take it turn and turn 
"About with Cerberus, and join 
"With him in toil 
"Of keeping human beings out ; 
"Allowed on Earth, I'm spirit-slaved 
"By something never felt before; 

"It stirs my heart when Adam 
"But looks at me, it binds me fast. 
"If love binds so 
"Why should I care for power? 

"Did God 
"Want love ? Was not He vastly more 
"Than satisfied with power? I had 

"The power to crush this Man ; 
"His intense love I more desired. 
"His gentle thoughts 
"And works were wonderful to me. 
"In Man is shown much more of rare 
"Design than seems to run through dust, 

"Beasts, trees, the sky and lakes. 
"Whatever eyes may rest upon 
"He's more than all." 



66 



'His eyes subdue the skies ; he's like 
'A tree ; his feet the roots, his arms, 
'His hands are branch and twigs ; each shrub 

"Belittles him, and yet 
'He's greater than them all ; Man^f thinks." 

"His matted couch 
'Is sign sufficient he can take 
'Comfort at ease. Results he plans 
'Beyond each brutish mind. 

"In sand 
'That's smooth, the shapes of trees 
'And rocks, now outlines he quite well ; 
"Once he did more; 
'Wet clay he moulded into balls; 
'Then balls of varied size and shape 
'Made he; by twos these placed, then made 

"Them like to me. It pleased 
'Me well to have his glowing eyes 
'Study my face 

'And form, though hideous ; these frail, 
'Crude images broke he, at first — 
'Then kept. The other beasts then he 

"Fashioned, until of us 
'He had a whole menagerie. 
'Thus then, worked he; 
'He wanted but a model real, 
'And fairly standing in his sight, 
'Himself t'amuse with making men." 

"His treasured images 
'Are dust; — since monkeys look so like 
'In kind to him, 
'He's ceased his image-work." 

To this 
'The summary amounts : I, Satan, 
'Must help Man right to do, or fall 

"Both headlong back to Hell. 
'It easy is to think, but on 
'All fours to walk, 



6 7 

"Or strange to look upright on twos 
"Is easier far for Hell's once chief, 
"Than joyous be in their doing. 

"As crocodile I these 
"Can do, can watch, can wait, could snatch 
"Man up when wrong ; 
"In stress could swallow him; and, quite 
"Content, make food for worms ; this I'll 
"Reserve 'til all thfngs else have failed. 

"But now, 'tis better far 
"That I, a love-sick crocodile, 
"Bestir myself 

"At once, and think while serving, how 
"I best can aid the Man content, 
"Eternally." 



So dreamed aloud 
The crocodile, until 

His dreams almost an angel's seemed 

Even to us birds. 

He saw himself, by nature's force 
And time; to worms, and useful juice 
Of plants reduced, and thought what plant 

He'd choose to give his life 
Unto. If choice were freely given 
He'd be a vine — 
A vine with fruitage ; 

But a vine 
Would climb ; would that please Him who sat 
Above, and ruled small Earth, and made 

The elements which formed 
The Earth ? As Angel he had climbed, 
And been thrown down ; 
As vine, he'd crawl, nor cast aloft 
One leafy branch ; his ripened fruit 
Could feed the birds, and they could sing 

God's praise ; the sound could go 



68 



Below, above ; and should his soul, 
Cast forth from out 

His form, by vine-root's grasp, find Hell 
Its restless, endless home; e'en there 
The melodies of birds, vine-fed, 

Might pierce their way, and bring 
Comfort in midst of gnawing pain's 
Discouragements. 

His changing, fettered heart Hell's census 
Took, counting the spirits bound 
At will, at council called in Heaven. 

Could he release them all 
Should he return ? They'd followed him 
In truth, but why ? 
He'd not compelled, and Hell itself 
Might change, now he was out. It had 
Of Heaven the mental elements ; 

Musicians in one discord 
Fuged ; Heaven's music far away ; 
Ear tortured they ; 

Great artists, who'd oft done the clouds 
Of Heaven in tints by them alone 
Impossible; God's alchemists 

Direct' their work in Heaven, 
None fallen were. 

Throughout the list, 
In thought, he went ; 
Nor could he deem but they as well 
Without his ken, — for present needs ; 
Later, if ordered there, he'd go 

And suffer, too, if they 
Released were not ; to Earth and shape 
He yet was bound. 

To his keen, anguished sense had come 
God's words to Adam, he thought he knew 
Their meaning well, if Adam could 

Not love a beast, his fate, 
In present outer shape, was fixed. 
A mental beast, 



69 

Intolerant and vain, he once 

Had been ; Hell's fires had calcined part ; 

But, fitted to his shape, his mind 

Had filled it out complete 
'Til Adam came, and in his sweet 
Companionship 

He learned a meaning new to him ; 
That power existed out of self, 
And was a Spirit, sent from God, 

Which conquered other loves, 
Beside the love for God Supreme, 
Throughout all space. 

This fainting Satan'd learned. — Adam heard 
God's words, but did not catch their thought 
Of awful import. 

God called Adam 

To stand near Him ; then called 
The apes ; He called for all the race 
Of monkey kind. 

These showed to Man. Are these thy sons? 
Man Adam? dost thou call such as these 
Daughters and sons? Hast thou no soul? 

The Man looked at the tribe 
Before him grouped, but said no word ; 
He did not know. 

At their lean arms he looked, at his ; 
Saw their shorn heads, felt his long locks 
Of waving earth-red hair, and brow 

All decked with little curls, 
Which oft he'd plucked out by the roots, 
And felt no hurt — 
Because his eyes they'd covered up. 
At quadrumanian feet he glanced, 
And at his shapely ones ; in one 

Swift glance surveyed 
The man-like, climbing beasts ; his own 
Fair skin was smooth, 
Theirs hairy was. Chatt'ring, toward him 
They stretched their hands ; Adam cast himself. 



70 

Face down to earth, — Hast thou done this? 

Then thou shalt die. God grasped 
The Man, and high he lifted him — 
My mate then spoke, 
A soft "Ya-hu ; Ya-hu."* The Lord 
Of Heaven heard, // this bird speaks 
Shall I not hold mine wrath? The Man 

Must know he has a soul, 
And feel the grasp of pain. Slow down 
The Man was lowered; 
The Earth he touched, and then the Lord, 
Who could Man's shrinking side have crushed, 
Clutched it. 

Thou hast a soul, it feel. 
With wrench of hand, twisting 
The muscles hard. He watched Adam's face, 
Thence came a sound 

From out Adam's mouth ; the first great "Oh !" 
Of pain ; this all the list'ning Earth's 
Resounding waves answered ; the sound 

Circling, went swirling round 
From every tree, rock, hill and plain; 
That "Oh" of pain, 

That cry of pain ; that something which, 
Not seen, nor heard, made self supreme; 
It was then born, nor time, nor love, 

Nor fear could prove to Man 
Its non-existence ; God then loosed His hand, 
Pains like thy soul, 

Feel' st thou thy soul? It shall thee chide, 
And thou'lt be true and clean in time. 
A kindred mate thou'lt have like to 

Thyself and she will seem 
Thy soul; zvith thee will live; she'll thee 
Surpass in grace; 
In wisdom be thy peer; and far 
Beyond in seeing quick and clear 

*"Oh God, oh God." 



7i 

A future good; thou' It her excel 

In strength, regarding needs 
At hand superlative. But thou 
Thyself must curb. 

Thou'lt have thy separate soul, nor canst 
Thou always have thy mate with thee; 
Each sight of her, her every act, 

Should thee remind — in some 
Degree — of Me, and what I thee 
Have told. 

Love Me supreme; then, if she fails, 
I'll comfort thee. 

Rest now, within 
Mine arms; I'll hold thee close; rest Man, 

And sleep ; I love thee so. 
Thou'lt live; and work, and sing. Again 
I'll come, and when 

I come, thou'lt sleep so sound thou'lt have 
No knowledge what I bring to thee 
Until thou seest my good gift. 

The pain-tired eyelids closed, 
His Father holding him; He smoothed 
Adam's knitted brows, 
And sang to him. The birds mingled 
Their songs with His. No words were sung; 
But sounds since used by insect choirs, 

To lull to sleep ; He bent 
And kissed the Man, and laid him down 
And went away. 



RECITATIVE. 
ADAM'S WAITING. 



RECITATIVE. 



At dawn, and day by day, Adam waked 

And prostrate bowed before the Sun 

As place, he thought, most like the home 

Where God might dwell. He loved 
To think of Him, although to grieve 
God's heart he feared. 

Himself he bathed within the rock- 
Fountain ; he learned to whistle ; sung 
The songs of little birds, — that he 

Might sing them to his mate 
When she should come; as had _ in faith 
Been promised him. 

Now garlands fair he wove, to deck 

His coming bride ; her wanting, wreathed 

With them great elephants. Of trees 

With swaying branch, festoons 
He made, which ran from tree to tree, 
He grief forgot. 
He stored up honey in a cave 
He'd built of stones ; about its sides 
Heaped sand and moss; with joy his heart 

Was filled. 

His fear and dread 
Constant became, lest apes should turn 
To men like him ; 
But no, a magic bound seemed set. 



76 

He grieved where they at aught surpassed, 
For they could climb secure. What if 

His mate should long for that 
Beyond his grasp? but then, he thought, 
Will she not love 

A Man more than a climbing beast, 
However high its place? Waiting, 
The Man of best would worthy be ; 

Working, be worthy Heaven. 
Within his side, a throbbing heart 
He felt ; oft times 
It beat with fear if he but looked 
Out toward the dreadful, man-like apes ; 
With joy and reverence it beat 

When he recalled to mind 
The faithful promise God had made 
While hushing him, 
No longer home-sick, tired, nor robbed 
Of sleep — unless for very joy. 
We thought it strange, I and my mate 

Whom I so dearly loved; 
Beside a promised mate, this new- 
Made Man had then 
A soul, which more and better was. 
Since soul and life seemed each a part 
Of each, we, too, wished for these souls. 

The life of Man my mate 
Had saved, Would God not give us birds 
A living soul ? 

We'd sing ; and wait, and see, for we 
Him also loved. 



RECITATIVE. 

THE 

COMING 

OF 

EVE. 



RECITATIVE. 



Like other days, the longed-for day 
Dawned clear. When rolled the sun on high 
Our quiet hour disturbed was ; 

The twitt'ring silence of 
The wood awoke to trumpetings 
Unusual. 

Advanced full soon toward us a tribe 
Of elephants, vast beasts and white 
Compared with .those of Eden, our home. 

Upon them rode in state 
Spirits of might in garments clothed 
From Heaven's looms. 

The Lord of all came, too. Swiftly 

Appeared a newly opened plain 

Hedged thick with thorns, all blossoming ; 

Mountains, rocks heaped on rocks 
Encircling and receding rose 
Beyond the hedge, 
Their cones the azure sky piercing, 
Shone luminous with snow and ice 
Beneath sun rays ; rays dazzling still 

'Though passing fast fair Eden's 
Meridian. Then Paradise 
In brightness gleamed. 
Appeared an entrance new ; through this, 
With measured tread, the stately herd 
Their precious burdens bore, nor saw 



8o 

The Man these shining forms, 
Nor heeded he ; his senses fine 
In sleep were locked. 

Transplendent ones, Angels from Heaven, 
Eden's bowers amidst, sat mute and gazed 
Upon their heavy, lumbering steeds ; 

Nor knew that these were kings 
Of beasts, and trained to follow sounds 
Angels heard not. 

Of sound these beasts each modulation 
Knew that breathed in vain to harps 
Within Angelic ears ; so trained 

Were they to signals given 
That without thought the Angels rode, 
Marched, throned on them, 
Eden's bowers amidst; and sate transfixed 
Beneath its fragrant, spicy shade; 
Beheld entranced its beauteous 

Simplicity; saw Adam 
Unconscious that to him was given 
An homage rare. 

The palms in Eden were wonderful, 
Both greater and the lesser kinds, 
Gathered in groups, and set in lanes; 

In vain search we, to Heaven 
They were transplant' to charm the sight 
Of Angels there. 

Within Eden's entrance was the small 
Rock- fountain Adam loved, not far 
Beyond, stored safe, sweet honey-hoard 

In caches made by him 
Within the ground ; the busy man 
Had right to rest. 

So sound Adam slept, that all had passed 
Each to his place and statue-like 
Remained, like Burmahn idols carved 




8i 

From tabreez-stone. Adam's herd, 
With watchful eyes that turned toward him, 
Stood guard. 

The elipse complete, at farther end 
An altar stood of stone; huge, vast, 
Entire; a monolith scarred not 

By human hands ; there lay 
Lilies of creamy hue, and white, 
Like Easter flowers ; 
Pale roses, smooth of stem, blushing; 
Chrysanthemums ; of violets, 
A fragrant, incense shedding cloud ; 

Spice- weed and ferns ; on edge 
Of rock these found a footing place 
And seemed to thrive; 
While, from its base, wild columbine 
Sprang up, 

A plant designed in Heaven, 
And thence transplant' by eagle's aid 

To Earth. Such gard'ning done, 
Aquila seemed to watch their growth 
In nature's care. 

Secure their earthly home, and growth 
Assured, from out their shapely gold 
And scarlet throats music came forth 

From earth, by dainty stem 
Conveyed. So still it was, we heard 
The ferns bend down 

To catch the sounds from out these flowrets 
Spreading horns ; sweet sounds from Heaven. 

We held our breath in fear to miss 

One note, for only then 
Were they connected up by wires 
Invisible. 

Their golden throats resounding rang 
With harmonies from Heaven afar, 
And carried thence through endless space ; 

Seraphs the players were. 



82 



In time, ears trained will hear these tones 

And learn Heaven's songs ; 

The bad then good will grow ; that they 

May onward follow to the source 

Of perfect harmony. 

Then first 

Was felt the thrill which greets 
Orchestral score, created by 
A thinking mind ; 

Not nature's tuneful pipings, squacks 
And roars ; but all subdued to place 
And harmonized in Heaven ; 

'Twas bliss 

To hear ; a glorious, hushed 
Salute of honor ; first to God, r 
Then Man, God's work. 

Stood all the beasts in place, nor moved 
'Til music ceased, for sweet and clear 
A love-song rose ; Earth's love to God, 

And Heaven's to God, and God's 
To new-made Man, who lay asleep 
Within his nest. 

Out toward the monolithic stone 
The largest of the stranger herd 
Walked slow ; something upon it lay 

Which glistened white ; and laced 
About with strands as fine as spiders 
Ever spin ; 

Amidst the filmy strands, wove in 
And out were blossoming lotus, pink 
And white ; above, one lotus lay, 

All gold at heart, petaled 
With crimson hue ; the sacred plant 
Of Indes' land. 

All wreathing, binding it in place, 
A purple passion-vine entwined 
Itself; 



83 

Within the wreathing vines 
And milk-white swathing webs 
Lay gentle Eve, in dreamless sleep's 
Embrace enwrapped. 
Beneath her head an Angel's folded 
Wing, above her lay its mate, 
Her form from rays of sun shielding, 

Once more of use to her 
Before its final dissolution, since 
It was willed so. 

God touched the Man to waken him, 
This is thy mate — Man Adam — wake! 
Look! here's thy mate; loved Adam, live 

And with her tend this place, 
Keep thou My law, and forget not 
Oh, son of Mine — 
I've given thee all thou needest here 
And made the earth so fair that thou 
Canst perfect be, nor think of sin. 

Work then, and live; sinning 
Thou'lt die, and be shut out from Heaven, 
Away from Me. 

Then ceased the words; an influence sweet 
Enthralled the Man beyond the power 
Of simple words.. 

His elephant 
Was courteous host alike 
To Angel guest and waiting beast, 
In place of Man. 
Beside the stranger elephant 
Stood Adam's faithful guard, nor did 
It think but that its guest and Adam's 

The other was, its look 
Indifferent, tho' watchful it 
Of child-like Man ; 

It served an unseen guide in all 
Its ways with Adam, and came and went 
According to command of that 



8 4 

Great Presence, which controlled 
Both them, and every living thing 
But mortal Man. 

The Earth was made laws to obey- 
Not made for Man ; he was to have 
No laws save those to labor, and 

To love. 

Heaven's walls'd enclosed 
An idler's paradise, hence un- 
Provoked revolt. 

The pit of Hell nothing contained 
Of love, nor were revolting souls 
Contented there. 

A new Earth placed, 

How could Man's life be planned 
And simplified toward liberty 
And happiness ? 

Let Man be law; a perfect Man 
Could need no perfecting ; could run 
In circle small for aye ; while Earth, 

In circle not so strict, 
Would take the Man around, and tilt 
Him back and forth 
Within a circling year, to climes 
Untold ; he could stand still, and have 
Variety. What use had Man 

For laws ? chance might account 
To him for everything, which he 
Himself wrought not. 
Should man inquire, and search, some laws 
He'd find, binding material things ; 
For self, no laws ; could aught spoil such 

A work ? The plan'd been wrought 
With thought for child-like Man, who slept 
Like any child. 
Unmindful lay he in his mat 
On elephant, asleep. At last 



85 

His spirit heard ; his body still 

Engulfed in sluggish rest. 
Beast Satan heard, "This Man's law was, 
" 'Obey and work.' " 

Man must obey without a thought 

Or knowledge of result ; — save this, 

That God would be displeased, and Heaven 

Would be no place for him. 
That God should wish a home where He 
Could be at peace 

Was far beyond the serpent's ken ; 
He hoped Man would obey ; but cast 
An anxious thought out toward the form 

Which lay so closely swathed ; 
Its coming moved torment anew 
Within his heart. 

One law had shut him out from Adam, 
The law of kind ; 'til now they two 
In loneliness were equals both ; 

Far better so, than Adam 
And Eve content, and he alone, 
And in their sight. 

"Adam not alone" ? — his envy burned, 
Again he vows forgot, his soul 
Shuddered ; on that one chance alone 

Could he gain Heaven ; he could 
Find blessedness complete for him 
As Adam's friend. 

"What lay within those swathing folds?" 
Quick ran his thoughts all knowledge through, 
Experience to him had come 

In line of "warriors, powers, 
And principalities;" not maids 
In silk cocoon. 



86 

Should she prove precious, he with Adam 
Could strive ; and, conquering him, bear off 
His mate. 

A tree forbid grew near ; 

Around its base a screen 
Of ferns and fennel grew, a safe 
And near retreat. 

Cast he a look toward Man, as one 

In act to spring; he paused, then crouched 

He low ; and lying on the ground, 

Amidst the ferns and flowers 
That girt the great tree's base, he made 
His silent way. 

Then we forgot the slimy beast 

Which lay beside the "knowledge-tree ;" 

Nor saw we him again 'til days 

To weeks and months had run, 
So still he lay that we drew near 
The sleeping pair. 

Observant, from the perfumed rock, 
The Presence of the Lord saw all, 
Himself invisible ; then rose 

Enchanting music's chords 
From golden trumpet throats, to ears 
Of Angel guests 

Who raised their heads, surprised ; the sounds 
Familiar seemed ; they were transmit' 
To far off Earth, from Heaven direct, 

By grounded circuit, through 
The columbine ; a perfect flower designed 
For Paradise. 

To make Earth Heaven, it nothing lacked ; 
God's presence ; Angels ; all that art 
Could paint, or ear enjoy, — why wake 

That drowsy Man? He seemed 



87 

The center of all interest 
To eye and thought. 

When God elects to be alone 

He draws angelic bounds, Himself 

Invisible. 

Great storks from sky 
Descend', themselves adjust 

On ledge of rock, and nestle there 

Like little birds 

Beside the parent bird. Hushed were 

Our simple notes ; while high from out 

The aquilegia's horns loud tones 

Symphonious rose, tho' played 

In distant Heaven, and played to wake 

The dreaming Adam. 

Of stranger herd of elephants 
One only there remained, and it 
The leader was, and bore a Queen 

To grace the waiting Earth. 
Adam's faithful guard, bearing the Man, 
Stood, with its. mate ; 

Of Adam's herd, all else had gone ; 
Each, passing by, had paired with one 
Of stranger herd ; they slowly paced 

In solemn march. 

The white 
Beast's glitt'ring riders turned, each one, 
And looked toward Adam. 
The Angels passed the leafy gate 
Nor saw it once ; intent were they 
On Eden's bloom, and its one Man. 

Full gently had great ropes 
Of bloss'ming vines swung down; to their 
Fixed resting place 

They swung, and held the passage-way 
Secure. 



88 

The glitt'ring ones were shut 
Without, to heavenly march which oft 

They'd heard, and followed where 
It called ; their earthly steeds had heard, 
And ordered march 
In spite of them ; 

They were shut out, 
Those shining ones, but knew it was 
A part of some wise plan. In thought 

In Eden they lingered still ; 
Shut out, they felt at liberty 
To roam at will ; 

They saw how planned was Earth, so placed 
For Man's abode, that Angels e'en 
Might be content, environed so ; 

Man's limitations felt — 
For Man must step, or creep, or jump— 
Of upward flight incapable, — 
They'd Angels be. 

Earth's freedom they'd 
Enjoy, now their 's it was ; to Heaven 

Return content — unless, as now — 
When earthward sent as choicest of 
Heaven's messengers. 

Within Eden's bounds two beings lay 
Upon whose fate unmeasured woes 
Or many joys for ages wait. 

Since then, no one can say 
That God's to blame for aught, save once, 
Or, maybe, thrice; 
A message sent to Noah when 
About the Earth to drown ; He called 
Forth Abraham, who would have lived 

His century, and three- 
Score years and ten, without God's call ; 
He Angels sent 

To warn ; and gave men dreams ; aside 
From these, — 



8 9 

And the one time when from 
His throne His Son went forth to save 

What seemed to Him — the Son — 
Such mighty loss of souls and lives; 
No record's given. 

Since God then, made one soul to live 

Upon this Earth, He lets all live, 

And work with tremblings oft their own 

Salvation out, unless 
They take that offered through His Son ; 
God's Man was Adam. 

Unconscious Man slowly awaked 

And turned himself, and looked ; what noise 

Had him disturbed ; and, whispering low 

Of coming joy — and him 
Cursing — had gone away? Into 
The sky he gazed, 
It seemed the same ; but as he rose 
He glanced around ; his dreaming must 
Be true ; a garden strange he saw ; 

The tree was safe near which 
His store of honey lay concealed, — 
And rock- fountain ; 

Amazed, he sat upright, and then — 
Saw Eve, a white cocoon, all bound 
About with swathing, filmy threads, 

Milk-white, and strong; held fast 
By wreathing, purple-blossomed vines 
Of passion-flower. 



DOVE'S SONG TO THE PASSION 
VINE. 



SONG. 



"O Passion-vine, so rough and blue, 
Dear Passion-vine, hold fast and true, 

Thy branches clasp a soul within, 
A soul which has no thought of sin." 

"Loved Passion-vine, could we, like thee 

Bind life and immortality, 
The blood-drops from our hearts we'd give 

To see thy prisoner rise, and live." 

Upon his friendly, waiting beasfe 
Adam closer drew, to see within 
The chrysalis ; 

From its rent side 

A bare, pink arm shone through 
Its web-like, spun-silk covering 
To greet his eyes ; 

From the fair arm drooped, nerveless, a 
Slim wrist and hand ; a human hand 
Like his. At signal by Man given 
His elephant knelt down 
Beside the standing one. 

Strange sight; 
Adam stood, and stared; 
A mortal hand ; a pinkish arm 
And wrist ; escaping from a rent 
Within a great cocoon ; as fair 



94 

And smooth as those from which 
He'd seen emerge great butterflies 
And brilliant moths. 

He studied the small hand ; and clasped 

It in his own firm hand. He saw 

The covering Angel's wing, caught down 
By slightest strands of film ; 

He saw the wing was laid above 

The cocoon's silk 

And did not pass within, as did 

The hand and arm. — My mate and I 

Had left our nest and young alone, 
That seeing, — we might see 
And know Adam's every act, and word, 

And very thought. 

He placed Eve's hand in his, her wrist 
He gently moved, and lifted it ; 
He touched her arm ; with his cold hand 
He snapped the thread that held 
The covering Angel's wing in place ; 
It fell to dust. 

He heeded not, but looked where it 
Had lain, and saw — Eve's gracious face, 
Her quiet, sleeping face ; this then 

Was real ; but not like his 
The face; — within the fountain's rim 
He had learned his, 
And oft had played at mirroring 
Himself, to prove identity. 
She could not fly away, — as did 

The birds ; one wing was gone, 
She could not fly with one alone; 
And then Adam smiled. 

Her slender wrist lay still within 

His hand, — warm now — his blood lagged not, 



95 

But shot throughout his veins like rays 

Of living fire. He was 
Alone with her he had a legal 
Right to love. 

His waving hair fell to his feet — 

His body veiled ; it custom was 

To him, when sought he sleep. He'd bound 

It fast with clematis 
Which, like a well-wrought broidery, 
A royal robe 
For this first earthly princeling made. 

He looked again, and caution came 
To him ; he thought how oft he'd all 

Too rough handled the homes 
Of birds in trees, or e'en the silk 
Of blossoms bright ; 

Eve's tranquil, breathing face was fair, 
Compared with any flower he knew ; 
Close round her brow, serene and still, 

Curled rings of hair, like vine- 
Tendrils, unlike was she to all 
Beside himself. 

Adam knew Eve's hand was warm ; and in 
Her wrist a throbbing stroke of life 
Ebbed to^ind fro, like that his heart 
Sent running, coursing all 
Throughout his veins ; if he but dared 
He'd rend the web. 



SLEEPY MOCKING BIRD'S 
SONG. 



SONG. 



"O, Adam, be content, hasten 

And go away ; 
What's hidden here, will keep 'til morn, 

It's come to stay. 

Those heavy eyelids, weighted down, 

Have hid from view 
The learning of their loss of Heaven, 

Because of you. 

Go, Adam, thou hast been asleep, 

And from thy side 
Enough of mortal clay hast lost 

To form thy bride. 

Her soul is what she brought from Heaven, 

And that's asleep, 
Don't wake her, first of mortal Men, 

But silence keep." 

We Doves, alarmed, thought of our nest 
And little birds therein; the night 
Might fall, ere Adam had seen his mate ; 

We chirped and cried ; we ceased 
In fright, the Man had heard ; he raised 
His eyes in thought. 



IOO 

Eve's hand he clasped above his heart 
In sweet contentedness ; unto 
Fast setting sun his face he turned 

And raised his hand toward Heaven, 
He God's self thanked for happiness 
Almost complete; 

Besought his Father to remain 
A Presence ever near, and prayed 
Him help His Adam keep in mind 
His promises. 

A mid- 
Day gleam of light on Adam shone 
While gentle Man 
Over himself the mastery 
Of God's love felt, 

His hand rent then 
The sheltering web, revealing her, 
For him fit mate. 

Adam looked; 
Then softly touched her wakeful, blushing, 
Sleepy face. 



EPILOGUE. 



EPILOGUE. 



I fast was shut in dungeon's walls, 
A prisoner released from death; 

And then, released from blindness' thralls 
I listened there, with bated breath 

To Palm Dove, spent with flying far, 
Which fell on window ledge, its "coo" 

Not that of other doves ; through bar 
Of window grate it took; "Ya-hu. 



j> 



"Ya-hu," its cry; "Oh God! oh God!" 
The meaning was, it fed with me, 

And slept beside mine head. Had rod 
Of gold blossomed, could word from God 

Be sent by Dove again? "Release 

"Me God, from hence; the word of Dove 

"I'll then translate; it should speak 'Peace', 
"Man's raging hate toward Thee, to love 

"Should turn ; for all in sight that's now 
"Fresh from Thy hand, is beauty yet ; 

"Nor Art, Science, nor thought from brow 
"Of man evolved, can e'er beget 

"More than the ant, or bee, or flash 
"Of lightning wild, should ages since 

"Have taught to him. With Thee, no trash 
"Of wheat unsearched through is." The 
Prince 



104 

Of Peace was wise; that Earth was round, 
It nothing was, to tell ; the course 

Of stars ; Earth's poise in space, if found 
In time would small use be ; man's force 

Too puny far, them to control. 

He showed himself God's son, and said 
" 'My Father does these works ;' 'A soul 

" 'That's saved, is worth the Earth, but 
dead 

" 'In sin ;' 'I come to save ;' 'Dost thou 
" 'Love me ?' My father will love thee 

"And thou in city fair shalt bow 

"In praise ; 'Thy shining mansion see 

" 'Where many mansions are.' ' The Dove 
Within my cell found rest ; and I 

Did talk with it ; my spirit throve 
As fed on Manna from the sky. 

Released from care, shut out from friend, 
No prison wall held me; in green 

Valley I lived; flowers before me bent; 
Within my flesh I walked unseen, 

The I the Dove did recognize 

As from my casement opened wide 

It flew refreshed toward Paradise 
Its mate to see, its Spirit Bride. 



M . f 



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